State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 12 Apr 2025

Poverty Reduction Goals

Why in discussion? 

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has announced a plan to eradicate poverty in the state within three years. He stressed on providing housing, water and employment opportunities to all. 

Key Points 

• About Poverty: 
  • Poverty is a condition or state in which an individual or community lacks the financial resources and goods necessary for a minimum standard of living . Poverty means that the level of income from employment is so low that basic human needs cannot be met. 
  • According to the World Bank, poverty means a lack of well-being and involves many dimensions. It includes low income and the inability to obtain the basic goods and services needed to live with dignity.  
    • Poverty also includes low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and inadequate capacity and opportunity to improve one's life. 
  • In 2018, about 8% of the world's workers and their families lived on less than USD 1.90 per person per day (the international poverty line) . 
• Types of Poverty:  
  • Absolute poverty: a situation in which household income is below the level necessary to maintain basic living standards (food, shelter, housing). This situation makes it possible to make comparisons between different countries and over time. 
    • First introduced in 1990, the "one dollar a day" poverty line measured absolute poverty by the standards of the world's poorest countries. In October 2015, the World Bank set it at $1.90 a day. 
  • Relative poverty: It is defined from a social perspective, i.e. the standard of living compared to the economic standards of the surrounding population. It is therefore a measure of income inequality. 
  • Relative poverty is usually measured as the percentage of the population whose income is below a certain ratio of the average income. 
• Estimation of poverty in India 
  • Poverty in India is estimated by the NITI Aayog Task Force through the calculation of the poverty line based on data collected by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). 
  • The Alagh Committee (1979) determined the poverty line based on the minimum daily requirement of 2400 and 2100 calories for an adult in rural and urban areas respectively. 
  • Subsequently, various committees; Lakdawala Committee (1993), Tendulkar Committee (2009), Rangarajan Committee (2012) estimated poverty. 
  • According to the Rangarajan Committee report (2014), the poverty line is estimated as per capita monthly expenditure of Rs 1,407 in urban areas and Rs 972 in rural areas. 

ODOP 2.0 Policy

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has prepared a ODOP (One District One Product) 2.0 policy for the financial year 2025-26.  

• This scheme will be linked to new dimensions like branding, packaging, marketing and quality improvement , so that its reach and effectiveness can increase even more. 

 Key Points 

• About the Scheme: 
  • The ODOP scheme will now be expanded into statewide self-employment , skill development , and entrepreneurship . 
    • Budget allocation has been made in various categories for the year 2025-26 , which will ensure effective implementation of the scheme. 
  • Separate plans have been prepared for financing , skill upgradation , and toolkit distribution . 
  • Successful entrepreneurs of the first phase will now be provided with a second loan facility to take their business to the next level. 
  • Every district will be given a target and the pending files will be renewed and sent to the banks in the year 2024-25 . 
    • Under the scheme, approval and distribution of 20% of the annual target will be ensured. 
  • Under ODOP 2.0, current schemes will be simplified and new projects will be approved. 
  • The CFC (Common Facility Center) projects under construction in Unnao, Bijnor and Gonda will be operated. 
  • Trainees will be selected through digital e-portal and will be linked to recognized training institutes . 
  • With the help of sectoral experts, efforts will be made to get ODOP products recognised at national and international platforms . 
• One District One Product (ODOP):  
  • This program has been implemented in  all the 75 districts of the state and has received appreciation not only at the national but also at the international level. 
  • This mission was launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in January 2018 . 

List of ODOP Products in Uttar Pradesh

Number	District	product
1.	Agra	Leather products and all handicraft products made from stone/marble
2.	Amroha	Musical Instruments (Dholak) and Readymade Garments
3.	bagpat	Home Furnishing
4.	Bareilly	Zari-Zardozi and Bamboo Products/Golden Industry
5.	Gorakhpur	Terracotta and Readymade Garments
6.	Lucknow	Chikankari and Zari Zardosi
7.	Mahoba	Gaura Stone
8.	mirzapur	Carpet and Metal Industry
9.	Siddharthnagar	Black salt rice
10.	Varanasi	banarasi silk saree

UP Police Portal Receives Scotch Award

Why in News? 

The Investigation, Prosecution and Conviction Portal developed by the Technical Services Unit of Uttar Pradesh Police has been awarded the Scotch Award . 

Key Points 

• About the Portal:  
  • This award has been given in the Police and Security category . 
  • The Investigation, Prosecution and Conviction Portal has been developed by the Technical Services Unit of Uttar Pradesh Police . 
  • This portal monitors the investigation process in cases related to mafia, POCSO, rape and other heinous crimes . 
  • Through this, the work of filing charge sheets on time and expediting the judicial process is done. 
  • So far, 85,000 people have been convicted through this portal and more than 40,000 five-year old cases have been settled. 
• Scotch Award:  
  • Established in the year 2003 by the Scotch Group , it is an independent civilian award given to individuals, projects and institutions that make significant contributions to the sustainable development of India . 
  • This award is given especially to recognize outstanding work in governance, finance, technology and social sectors . 

POCSO Act 

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act came into force on November 14, 2012, as a result of India's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in the year 1992. 
• This special law aims to address the crimes of sexual exploitation and sexual assault of children , which are either not specifically defined or adequately punished. 
• The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years . The Act prescribes punishment according to the severity of the offence . 
• The Act was reviewed and amended in 2019 to provide for more stringent punishments, including the death penalty, in cases of sexual abuse of children, in order to prevent such crimes against children. 
• The Government of India has also notified  the POCSO Rules, 2020.